WHAKA WEEKLY 🌲12 March 2026

Kia ora whānau! What a week to be alive and living in Rotorua!! The weather is absolutely cracking – not too hot, beautifully crisp mornings, and the kind of late summer air that makes you want to be outside every spare second you have. The trails are in fantastic shape and the forest is buzzing – and I mean BUZZING – because Crankworx is HERE!!!

Oh, and before we get into all of it – huge shout out to a very special birthday this week. Happy 95th birthday to a legend, my Grandma! Hey Grandma, love ya!! 🎂👑

📺 SEVEN SHARP TONIGHT – WE'RE ON TV!! 📺

Quick one before anything else – tune into Seven Sharp TONIGHT on TVNZ1 for some behind-the-scenes coverage of the mahi that goes into this incredible forest. This is our chance to show all of New Zealand what the Rotorua Trails Trust and this community are all about. Don't miss it – and share it with everyone you know! 🤙

🚵 CRANKWORX ROTORUA 2026 – IT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW!! 🔥

Okay. Deep breath. CRANKWORX IS HERE!!!!!

For the 12th time, Rotorua is hosting the world's greatest mountain bike festival – and our backyard is absolutely centre stage. The best riders on the planet are in our town, riding the trails, and putting on an absolute show. If you haven't been up to Skyline yet this week, what are you doing?! Get up there!

Running 11–15 March at Skyline Rotorua (Mt Ngongotaha), this year's event is stacked.

Here's what's on:

🏔️ Specialized Kārearea Downhill – The legendary Kārearea trail opens its gates again. Only available during Crankworx, this one is something else. Watch it LIVE on Pinkbike, Crankworx YouTube or TVNZ+ on Saturday 14th March, 4pm–6:30pm NZDT

🎯 Crankworx Slopestyle in Memory of McGazza – Marking 10 years since the passing of the beloved Kelly McGarry, the world's best slopestyle riders return to Rotorua's legendary course. Catch it LIVE Sunday 15th March, 10am–12:30pm NZDT

💨 Official Oceania Whip-Off Championships – A rider and crowd favourite. Pure sideways vibes against the stunning backdrop of Lake Rotorua.

🚲 Air DH presented by Rotorua Canopy Tours – Flowy, fast, and absolutely wild. Mr Black trail with 32 jumpable features. THIRTY TWO.

🥁 Plus: Dual Slalom, Pump Track Challenge, Skyline Double Down, Kidsworx (brought to you by Rotorua Trails Trust), expo booths, food trucks, music, and full festival vibes.

And this year is extra special – the NZ Downhill National Championships are being held as part of Crankworx Rotorua! Local heroes going head-to-head with the world's best. Incredible.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED 🎟️

FREE LOCAL'S DAYS – Wednesday 11th to Friday 13th March are FREE entry for locals! You just need to register online before you arrive. Go to crankworx.com/rotorua and sort it out now – there's literally no excuse not to go!

Festival Passes – For Saturday and Sunday you'll need a festival pass. Head to crankworx.com/rotorua/passes to grab one.

Watch online – Can't make it in person? Catch the Kārearea Downhill and Slopestyle live on Pinkbike, the Crankworx YouTube channel, or TVNZ+. All other events and behind-the-scenes content on @crankworx and @crankworxnz.

We are so proud to be part of making this event possible and we hope every single one of you gets up there to soak it in. 🏔️🔥

NOW – THE TRAIL MAHI!

Rockdrop Climb, Down The Guts, Challenge Roadside & Boulderdash – kicked off with a solid blowing run across four trails that all got the superstar treatment. Four

Rosebank – Blowing

Rosebank got a dedicated two-hour blow to make sure it's in prime condition. Rosebank is such a fun trail and it rides even better when it's freshly blown out – go see for yourself this weekend! Also...got a new wood landing on the epic knarly rock roll!!!

Trig Road – Digger & Drains

Big work on Trig Road on Friday – eight hours of digger and drain work to sort this walking and horse trail out properly. Getting the drainage right on a trail like Trig Road is absolutely critical for longevity and the crew did a serious job here. Well worth the investment!

Chestnut Link – Blowing & Vegetation

Chestnut Link got eight hours of blowing and vege on Friday – fresh off last week's tidy, this connector trail is in absolutely mint condition right now. It's one of those trails that quietly makes your whole ride better by linking things together seamlessly. Cheers team!

Sweet N' Sour – Drains, Vegetation & Surface Repairs

Drains, vege, and surface repairs, three jobs in one session from the trail crew to get this trail dialled in. Sweet N' Sour is running exactly as the name suggests right now (the climb is a bit...sour?) – go enjoy it!

Frank N' Furter – Vegetation (Adopter)

Our Frank N' Furter adopter was out on Saturday doing a quick vegetation clearance session 🙌. One hour of quiet, dedicated mahi that keeps this trail looking sharp. You're a legend – thanks for giving up your Saturday morning for the forest!

Corners – Radius of the Lost Arcs – Surface Repairs (Adopter)

Four hours of surface repairs on Corners from the adopter on Sunday 💪. Corners is a trail that rewards you fro the effort of climbing up to the start of the trail, and the adopter has been keeping it in beautiful shape. Last week they flagged some surface breaking up and this week they got straight onto it. That's proper trail stewardship right there – chur!

Rockdrop Climb – Blowing & Vegetation

Rockdrop Climb got a proper hit on Monday – nine hours of blowing and vegetation clearance. This trail absolutely opens up when it's clear and the crew have made sure every metre of it is in top shape. Go climb it. Go drop it. You know you want to 😄

Rockdrop – Tree Clearing

On Rockdrop itself – a quick tree clearing to keep the corridor safe and open. Health and safety first, always. Cheers for getting that sorted quickly!

Challenge Uphill – Blowing & Vegetation

Challenge Uphill got three hours of blowing and vege on Monday. Every good descent starts with a good climb and Challenge Uphill is now in perfect nick to get you where you're going. Legs ready? 🦵

Te Ruru – Blowing

Te Ruru got its first blow of the week on Monday – one hour of work to keep this little gem clear and rideable. More love to come later in the week too!

Minerals – Blowing

Minerals got a quick blow on Monday – crisp, clear, and ready to ride. Minerals is always a good time and the crew made sure it stays that way. Chur!

Mossy Loop – Vegetation (Adopter)

The Mossy Loop adopter snuck in a quick vegetation clearance on Monday 🌿. One quiet hour that makes a difference every single ride. You absolute legend – thank you!

Te Ruru – Blowing & Vegetation

Te Ruru got its second hit of the week on Tuesday – blowing and vegetation to finish the job properly. Two sessions in one week shows how much care goes into keeping even the smaller trails in great shape. Te Ruru is absolutely mint right now!

Riff Raff – Vegetation

Eight hours of vegetation clearance on Riff Raff on Wednesday – a massive session on a trail that's well worth the effort. Riff Raff is going to be riding beautifully and with Crankworx week in full swing, the timing couldn't be better. Go explore it!

Rocky Horror – Vegetation

Nine hours on Rocky Horror on Wednesday – a full day of vege work to get this trail absolutely singing 🎸. Rocky Horror is one of those trails that has real character and the crew gave it the time and attention it deserves. Proper mahi!

Dodzys Skills Park – Surface Repairs (Adopter)

Big shout out to the Dodzys Skills Park adopter who got in there on Wednesday for some surface repair work 🛠️. The skills park is such an important part of the Whaka network – it's where riders of all ages develop their craft. Keeping it in great shape means more people progressing and having fun. Thank you so much!

Hatupatu – Blowing

Hatupatu kicked off Thursday with a quick one-hour blow to keep it clear and fresh. Every trail in the network deserves love and Hatupatu is no exception. Go find it this weekend!

Te Poaka – Blowing & Vegetation

And to wrap up the week – Te Poaka got three hours of blowing and vegetation clearance on Thursday, and it will be on SEVEN SHARP TONIGHT!!!!. Te Poaka is one of the most famous and well-loved trails in the whole Whaka and the crew made sure it's in absolute prime condition heading into Crankworx weekend 🌟. If you're showing any out-of-towners around this weekend, Te Poaka is on the list. Non-negotiable.

THIS IS WHAT WORLD CLASS LOOKS LIKE 🌍💚

Crankworx doesn't come to just any town. It doesn't set up shop in just any forest. It comes here because the trails are exceptional, the community is extraordinary, and the mana of this place is something you can't manufacture.

And the reason the trails are exceptional? You're reading about it right now. It's 70 riders turning up for a working bee. It's an adopter giving up their Sunday. It's a volunteer showing up with a silky saw. It's someone chucking $20 at the website because they love their Saturday rides and want to give something back.

The world is watching Rotorua this week. And we reckon that's pretty choice.

If you want to be part of keeping this magic alive – head to www.rotoruatrailstrust.co.nz – 3 clicks and you're in. Every bit counts.

Now get out there, soak up every single second of Crankworx week, watch Seven Sharp tonight, and ride the trails that this incredible community has built and maintains with so much love.

You're part of something special. Don't forget it.

Aroha nui,

– The crew at Rotorua Trails Trust 🌲